The unbeaten USA squad led by NBA superstar LeBron James aim to take their pursuit of a fifth straight Olympic basketball gold to the next level when they face Brazil in the quarterfinals on Tuesday
The Americans rolled through the group stage with a perfect 30 record and a tournamentleading plus64 point differential but coach Steve Kerr said there are things the United States must improve if they want to emerge with gold when mens basketball concludes on Saturday
We know we have to play better Kerr said after the United States prepared to shift from Lille to Bercy Arena in Paris for the knockout phase
Part of this tournament is it gets harder as you go Kerr said We have to take better care of the ball
We dont need to make home run plays We just need to hit singles Our talent is overwhelming if we make the right play and I think thats part of it
The winner of USABrazil will face either NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokics Serbia or Tokyo bronze medallists Australia in the semifinals
Australia surprised the Serbs in an Olympic tuneup game last month
In the other side of the draw host nation France and their fledgling NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama take on Canada while Giannis Antetokounmpos Greece face World Cup champions Germany
Grind out a win
Kerr is spoiled for choice with a roster that includes James twotime NBA champion Kevin Durant Golden State sharpshooter Stephen Curry and the NBA champion Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum to name just a few
But he says his array of superstars must focus on the basics
Offensive rebounds Kerr said Our opponents are getting a lot of offensive boards so just continuing to harp on box outs and extra possessions and making sure that teams arent able to even out the game with all those extra possessions from our doing
Brazils former NBA firstround draft pick Bruno Caboclo averaged 16 points and 73 rebounds as Brazil went 12 in group play
Vitor Benite connected on 563 percent of his threepoint attempts but Brazil just dont look like having the firepower to challenge the United States offensively
James has been the driver of a US offensive that averaged more than 105 points per game in group play
Durant erupted for 23 points against Serbia Anthony Edwards scored 26 points against Puerto Rico
However whatever the remaining matchups look like on paper Curry cautioned that the United States must be prepared for adversity on the way to what would be a 17th Olympic gold
Winning a gold medal whatever year you look in the history books maybe besides the 1992 team everyone has had a battle somewhere Curry said
Whether its shots not falling or its a team that is playing amazing youve got to grind out a win
Good energy
France silver medallists in Tokyo lost their group finale to Germany to fall in the seedings
Now theyll have to become the first team to beat Canada to keep their dream of gold on home soil alive
I think weve all got the good will the good energy Wembanyama said
But now I think weve got to trust the coaching more just trust our teammates more and do the little things that dont show up on the stat sheets setting screens boxing out all that
France coach Vincent Collet tried to put a positive team on Frances lower seeding
They have more to lose than us in this position he said of the Canadians who havent won an Olympic medal since 1936
Germany go into the quarters as the second seed but like Kerr Germany coach Gordie Herbert said the supposed easier matchup that provides is an illusion
You hope you get a little bit easier team in the quarterfinals Herbert said But I think you really dont because every team here is really good
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